You know how to make your grant application stand out to funders, and how to avoid common data pitfalls in demonstrating your impact.
Yet data alone isn’t enough to convince funders—your application needs a strong, compelling case backed by real insights. Funders want to know that your program is not only needed but also effective, and that you truly understand the communities you serve.
This activity will help your staff connect the dots between data, community feedback, and a persuasive grant narrative that funders can’t ignore.
Ready to sharpen your funding appeal? Let’s get started.
Objective
Help staff practice integrating research and community insights into a compelling grant application by identifying relevant data, crafting a strong case for funding, and refining their storytelling approach.
This activity is ideal for:
- Funding and grant making staff
- Staff responsible for leading data collection and sense making processes
- Anyone interested in applying evaluative thinking
What you’ll need:
- Recent community needs assessment, program evaluation reports, or external research relevant to your program
- Sample grant application questions (or a real application your organization is working on)
- Highlighters, sticky notes, or digital collaboration tools
- Around 80 minutes for time management
The steps (60 min)
Step 1: Identifying the Story (20 min)
Divide participants into pairs (or in small groups depending on size). Next, highlight key statistics, themes, or insights from a recent community needs assessment, program evaluation reports, or external research that could support a funding request.
Using the guiding questions below, discuss:
- What data points demonstrate the need for this program?
- How do community voices or testimonials support this need?
- What research supports why this type of program works?
Step 2: Crafting a Compelling Case (20 min)
Most grant applications will have some variation of the following question: “Describe the need for this program and how it addresses an urgent issue”.
Pull this question out of the application (or using the one above), have each participant draft a 1-2 paragraph response incorporating the data they found in Step 1. Encourage them to use a clear and persuasive tone that ties the insights to the organization’s mission.
Pro tip: Use the “So what?” test—every data point should lead to a compelling reason why funding is necessary.
Step 3: Peer Review & Refinement (20 min)
Now, have each pair or a representative from each small group present their case to the larger group.
Using the “What Works / What’s Missing” framework, have the larger group give feedback:
- What works? (What’s compelling? What stands out?)
- What’s missing? (Is there a stronger data point to use? Is the case clear?)
Using the feedback, participants refine their paragraphs.
Let’s process (20 min)
This activity strengthens staff capacity to translate research and community insights into compelling grant language, making funding requests more persuasive and evidence-based. To support your processing, have the group discuss the following:
- What insights did we gain about using data to strengthen our funding request?
- What challenges came up when trying to connect data with storytelling?
- How can we integrate more community insights into our future grant applications?
- What will we do differently when preparing our next funding request?
Key takeaway
Connecting data with real stories create a more compelling and well-rounded grant application that funders are excited to support.
Keep refining your approach, learning from past applications, and using your data to tell a powerful story.
Try this activity and let me know how it goes for you (or if you need my support).
Raise Your Voice: What’s one challenge you’ve faced when incorporating data or community insights into a grant application? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
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